A United States federal district court has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily restore White House press access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The order, issued by Judge Timothy Kelly on September 24, 2026, is a 14-day temporary restraining order. This decision comes after the media organisations challenged the administration’s decision to revoke their press credentials.
The three media organisations had filed a lawsuit after their reporters were stripped of their credentials and prevented from entering the White House to carry out their professional duties. The lawsuit questions the administration's decision and its implications on press freedom and access to government officials. The media organisations argue that the administration’s action violated their constitutional due process rights.
The Trump administration had defended its decision to restrict the journalists’ access, arguing that the affected media organisations had published false information. Government lawyers also maintained that allowing the reporters continued access could pose a national security risk. However, the administration failed to provide sufficient factual evidence to demonstrate that the journalists’ access to the White House presented a national security danger.
The ruling therefore temporarily prevents the administration from enforcing the access restrictions against CNN, MS NOW, and Politico while the case moves forward. The decision does not represent a final ruling on the lawsuit. The court will still have to consider the substantive legal arguments presented by both the media organisations and the administration before reaching a final determination.
Ted Boutrous, the lawyer representing the news organisations, welcomed the decision, describing it as a vindication of press freedom, due process, and the rule of law. The lawyer’s comments reflect the position of the media organisations, which have argued that the administration cannot arbitrarily remove journalists from the White House press corps without following appropriate constitutional procedures.
The lawsuit is expected to continue as both sides present further arguments over the administration’s authority to regulate White House press access. The case could have wider implications for the relationship between the White House and news organisations covering the US government, particularly over the circumstances under which journalists can be denied access to official premises.
The White House had not issued an official response to the court’s decision at the time of reporting. The administration’s legal representatives may seek further legal action as the case progresses, potentially challenging aspects of the temporary restraining order. For now, the 14-day order requires the administration to restore press access for reporters working for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.
Key points
- A US federal court has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily restore White House press access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.
- The court’s decision was made after the media organisations challenged the administration’s decision to revoke their press credentials.
- The temporary order preserves the status quo and allows the affected journalists to regain access during the initial stage of the litigation.
